Via Oncology Rolls Out Surgical Oncology Pathways

Share Article

First six disease pathways piloted at UPMC and IU Health

Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB)August 27, 2015

Via Oncology, a physician-led clinical pathways company based in Pittsburgh, is expanding its existing Via Pathways platform of Medical and Radiation Oncology Pathways with the launch of its Surgical Oncology Pathways. The first six disease pathways are being piloted at UPMC and Indiana University Health with broader national rollout anticipated later this year.

Via’s Surgical Oncology Pathways incorporate the key decision points for patient work-up and assessment along with surgical interventions and follow up surveillance plans. The core tenets of the Via Pathways are employed in the Surgical Oncology Pathways with efficacy, safety and cost being used as the criteria for recommendations. Additionally, clinical trials will be prioritized and counted as On Pathway.

“The Via Pathways program has been central to the quality of care in medical and radiation oncology and we are excited to expand it for use by surgical oncologists as well,” says Kathy Lokay, CEO and President of Via Oncology.

Similar to Via’s existing Medical and Radiation Oncology Pathways, the Surgical Oncology Pathways were created through the collaboration of multi-disciplinary committees from multiple institutions. Referrals to other physicians are synchronized within the three specialties to ensure shared decision making.

Surgeons utilize the Via Portal decision support tool on a patient specific basis and are able to access all three specialties’ pathways during tumor boards and other multi-disciplinary meetings. Finally, measurement of patient presentations and physician decisions will be provided to individual surgeons and the disease committees for continuous improvement purposes.

“The Surgical Oncology Pathways standardize care, promote multi-disciplinary discussions, increase clinical trial awareness, and provide data capture and reporting—all essential components of a high-quality cancer program,” says Gretchen Ahrendt, M.D., Associate Professor of Surgery and Co-Director of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Program of UPMC. “Patients can be confident that they are receiving the best possible care throughout the UPMC CancerCenter network.”

Doug Schwartzentruber, M.D., System Medical Director of IU Health Cancer Services, adds, “The expansion of the Via Pathways program will help to further strengthen the IU Health Cancer Center network by reducing variability and ensuring high quality, evidence-based care in all treatment modalities. We are excited to be one of the first sites in the country with Medical, Radiation, and Surgical Oncology Pathways.”

UPMC holds financial interests in Via Oncology.

###

About Via Oncology

Via Oncology, LLC, is the cancer value management solution for medical, radiation and surgical oncologists. The Via Pathways span the continuum of cancer care including workup, diagnostics, treatment, symptom management, survivorship and advance care planning. Via Oncology also supports its cancer center customers through quality reporting, patient education, clinical trial accrual support and medical home tools. The Via Pathways are licensed by over 1,100 oncology providers in 20 states in community, hospital and academic based cancer centers. Learn more at http://www.viaoncology.com.